Railroad

Railroad
Railroad Rail"road` (r[=a]l"r[=o]d`), Railway Rail"way` (r[=a]l"w[=a]`), n. 1. A road or way consisting of one or more parallel series of iron or steel rails, patterned and adjusted to be tracks for the wheels of vehicles, and suitably supported on a bed or substructure. [1913 Webster]

Note: The modern railroad is a development and adaptation of the older tramway. [1913 Webster]

2. The road, track, etc., with all the lands, buildings, rolling stock, franchises, etc., pertaining to them and constituting one property; as, a certain railroad has been put into the hands of a receiver. [1913 Webster]

Note: Railway is the commoner word in England; railroad the commoner word in the United States. [1913 Webster]

Note: In the following and similar phrases railroad and railway are used interchangeably: [1913 Webster]

{Atmospheric railway}, {Elevated railway}, etc. See under {Atmospheric}, {Elevated}, etc.

{Cable railway}. See {Cable road}, under {Cable}.

{Ferry railway}, a submerged track on which an elevated platform runs, for carrying a train of cars across a water course.

{Gravity railway}, a railway, in a hilly country, on which the cars run by gravity down gentle slopes for long distances after having been hauled up steep inclines to an elevated point by stationary engines.

{Railway brake}, a brake used in stopping railway cars or locomotives.

{Railway car}, a large, heavy vehicle with flanged wheels fitted for running on a railway. [U.S.]

{Railway carriage}, a railway passenger car. [Eng.]

{Railway scale}, a platform scale bearing a track which forms part of the line of a railway, for weighing loaded cars.

{Railway slide}. See {Transfer table}, under {Transfer}.

{Railway spine} (Med.), an abnormal condition due to severe concussion of the spinal cord, such as occurs in railroad accidents. It is characterized by ataxia and other disturbances of muscular function, sensory disorders, pain in the back, impairment of general health, and cerebral disturbance, -- the symptoms often not developing till some months after the injury.

{Underground railroad} {Underground railway}. (a) A railroad or railway running through a tunnel, as beneath the streets of a city. (b) Formerly, a system of co["o]peration among certain active antislavery people in the United States prior to 1866, by which fugitive slaves were secretly helped to reach Canada.

Note: [In the latter sense railroad, and not railway, was usually used.] ``Their house was a principal entrep[^o]t of the underground railroad.'' --W. D. Howells. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • railroad — [rāl′rōd΄] n. 1. a road laid with parallel steel rails along which cars carrying passengers or freight are drawn by locomotives 2. a complete system of such roads, including land, rolling stock, stations, etc. 3. the persons or corporation owning …   English World dictionary

  • Railroad — Rail road , v. t. To carry or send by railroad; usually fig., to send or put through at high speed or in great haste; to hurry or rush unduly; as, to railroad a bill through Condress. [Colloq., U. S.] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • railroad — Under Title 11 U.S.C. Section 101: (44) The term railroad means common carrier by railroad engaged in the transportation of individuals or property or owner of trackage facilities leased by such a common carrier. United Glossary of Bankruptcy… …   Glossary of Bankruptcy

  • Railroad — Railroad, PA U.S. borough in Pennsylvania Population (2000): 300 Housing Units (2000): 116 Land area (2000): 0.626665 sq. miles (1.623054 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.626665 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Railroad, PA — U.S. borough in Pennsylvania Population (2000): 300 Housing Units (2000): 116 Land area (2000): 0.626665 sq. miles (1.623054 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.626665 sq. miles (1.623054 sq. km)… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Railroad — u. Railway, s. u. Rail …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • railroad — [ʀɛlʀod] n. m. ÉTYM. 1818; comme mot angl. écrit rail road, 1800, in Höfler; mot angl. (1775), de rail (→ Rail) et road « route », employé surtout aux États Unis (railway en Grande Bretagne). ❖ ♦ Américanisme. Vx. Chemin de fer (aux États Unis).… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • railroad — [n] train line elevated railway, line, metro, monorail, rail line, railway, streetcar line, subway, tracks, trolley line, tube, underground railway; concepts 155,503 …   New thesaurus

  • railroad — ► NOUN N. Amer. ▪ a railway. ► VERB informal 1) rush or coerce into doing something. 2) cause (a measure) to be approved quickly by applying pressure …   English terms dictionary

  • railroad — /rayl rohd /, n. 1. a permanent road laid with rails, commonly in one or more pairs of continuous lines forming a track or tracks, on which locomotives and cars are run for the transportation of passengers, freight, and mail. 2. an entire system… …   Universalium

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